Jim Harbaugh on Colin Kaepernick, the big, big money and why the QB wasn’t to blame for the 49ers’ 2013 offensive woes

ORLANDO, Fla.—Jim Harbaugh joined the Colin Kaepernick Contract Chorus on Wednesday and then, as usual, Harbaugh started soloing and took over the whole song.

“I think we all know what Colin’s earning potential is,” Harbaugh said at the NFC coaches media session on the final day of the league’s annual meetings.

So, Jim, what’s the salary figure Kaepernick should get in a new contract extension from the 49ers?

“Pretty much know what the numbers are,” Harbaugh said with a smile.

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To that point, Harbaugh declared that Kaepernick is “one of the top quarterbacks in the NFL,” which starts the bidding at something close to $18 million a year.

Harbaugh’s comments followed similar statements by CEO Jed York and general manager Trent Baalke about their desire to extend Kaepernick’s deal, which currently runs through the 2014 season.

But Harbaugh took it further, spending much of his session detailing exactly why Kaepernick is worth mega-money and why the 49ers’ passing-game struggles in 2013 weren’t the QB’s fault.

All in all, it was a virtuoso Harbaugh good-mood performance, 57 minutes of kinetic energy, open answers and rat-a-tat conversation, including…

* Harbaugh insisted that nobody in the 49ers locker room would begrudge Kaepernick leaping to the top of the team’s pay scale—currently topped by inside linebacker Patrick Willis’ $10-million annual average.

“(Kaepernick) deserves that, that’s what he deserves,” Harbaugh said of the top spot in the payroll.

“That’s what the market pays for that job and nobody attacks it more than he does. Nobody wants to be great like he does.”

* For the first time, Harbaugh confirmed that Kaepernick suffered a foot injury early last season—likely in the Week 1 victory over Green Bay–that affected Kaepernick’s running and throwing for several weeks.

“I could notice it, especially in practice,” Harbaugh said of the injury.

“(Kaepernick) doesn’t verbalize it and says he’s fine, says he’s going to play through it. Which I respect.

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“I mean, if it ever got to the point where I felt like it was hurting him or an injury could be worse, or he was hurting the team, then I would step in.”

Kaepernick didn’t miss a single practice or game in 2013, Harbaugh pointed out.
* Why did the 49ers go through such a terrible offensive lull midway through last season?

Because defenses were swamping Anquan Boldin, Michael Crabtree and Vernon Davis, Harbaugh said, and nobody else got open for Kaepernick.

Harbaugh added that it’s up to the coaches to design better plays and the 49ers to find a better third receiver.

“There was a stretch there last year where he didn’t have (open receivers)–and he played through it,” Harbaugh said of Kaepernick. “And never an excuse, never a bony finger of blame towards anybody.

“There were definitely times where we just were not getting guys open for him… There was tough sledding at times.”
* Noting the absence of open receivers, Harbaugh fired back at analysts, most notably ESPN’s Trent Dilfer, who critiqued Kaepernick for being a limited “one-read” QB last season.

“So-called experts that you’re talking about [as Harbaugh dropped into a thin nasal voice], ’Oh, the 1, the 2, the 3, the 4…,’” Harbaugh said, calling out hypothetical read progressions with a fierce laugh.

“Uh, you know, they’re not sitting back there in that pocket… Let’s move on. Before I get emotionally high-jacked.”

* Yes, as widely suspected, the 49ers coaches decided to pull back on the Kaepernick run-option plays last season to keep him as healthy as possible.

“We didn’t want to see Colin get hit 12 times a game,” Harbaugh said. “Thought four or five maybe, that’s it. That was a conscious effort.”

The QB-run plays weren’t put back in heavy rotation until the 49ers stretch drive, Harbaugh said.

* Harbaugh reiterated what he told SI.com last month: His relationship with Baalke is solid and is nothing they want outsiders to dwell on.

On Tuesday, both Baalke and York acknowledged there are competitive tensions within the management structure, but that it’s inevitable with strong, successful personalities such as Harbaugh and Baalke.

“We don’t like to talk about it that much (as) ‘Trent and Jim,’ you know?” Harbaugh said. “This is a team effort here.”

* Harbaugh once again shrugged off Cleveland’s attempt to trade for him earlier this year, calling the media speculation surrounding it “another mini-controversy—been there before.”

Harbaugh has two years left on his contract and York said Tuesday that he intends on signing Harbaugh to an extension at some point.

On Wednesday, asked directly if he’d like to remain with the 49ers beyond 2015,
Harbaugh was emphatic.

“I love coaching this team, I love the players, I love the coaches and the organization that I serve,” Harbaugh said. “And want to be here for a very long time.”

After the formal session was over, Harbaugh asked me if the meetings had been interesting enough to justify my trip.

The answer: Yes. The Raiders are tremendously interesting, and the 49ers have Harbaugh, who always knows precisely what he’s doing, who he’s helping, and how to make it more and more interesting.

you have to love jim harbaugh’s ability to support his players but he is too much..

“So-called experts that you’re talking about [as Harbaugh dropped
into a thin nasal voice], ’Oh, the 1, the 2, the 3, the 4…,’” Harbaugh
said, calling out hypothetical read progressions with a fierce laugh.

“Uh, you know, they’re not sitting back there in that pocket” yes jim but Colin was back there and colin did not go through his progressions. not just told by Trent Dilfer, but also Greg Cosell who breaks down game film. Mr. Cosell stated this from early in the season to late in the season where he saw no big improvement. Even Joe Montana and Steve Young amongst others made similiar comments… He was ranked 11th out of 12 playoff qbs and 31 st in pass completions last year….that great defense had alot to do with those victories… we shall see

Johnathon McMullen

You know one thing that I hate about the NFL is the opinion of so called analysts Dilfer was average at best when Raven won SB in 2000! Kap plays with a group of possession WRs, both with great hands but neither get separation from good DBs. Kap deserves a WR corp the likes of a Brady Manning Rodgers Farve or Montana all who were given yearly the best group of WRs corp and SAME OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR for most of their careers!

leftcoast

Fire Harbaugh and hire Jackson. LaToya Jackson. And pay Kaepernick a buck a tattoo. He’ll be richer than Buffett.

ed

brady does it with relative nobodys..if your qb doesnt look downfield, it doesnt matter who you have.. moss was open quite a bit but ck7 never threw it too him….

Bigmouth

Out of curiosity, did it bother you when we were ranked 29th with even fewer total passing yards in 2011? That Alex Smith didn’t do progression-based reads either?

ed

You realize smith is gone and has nothing yo do with kap being ranked so low?

ds207

Not really sure if the lack of completing passes was due to Kaep not looking for alternate receivers, but it sure looked like this team had crappy receivers other than Boldin and Davis who just could not get open at all. Kyle Williams, Marlon Moore, Lockette, Baldwin and Jenkins all were bad, so Baalke may need help picking the right guy in a deep draft, since he hand picked the bust Jenkins already.

ed

He threw for 412 yards in the opener with those crappy receivers

Bigmouth

Yep. But do you realize Kap’s being ranked so low in the categories mentioned has a lot to do with our super-conservative offensive scheme? That’s what I’m asking.

Bigmouth

Moss was a decoy by design. That’s how our offense works.

ed

So you dont throw to an open guy..,,how did that work out

Marquez Miller

Mostly to Boldin tho. 229 or somethin. He was such a problem that the pack put most of their attention on him an other dudes finally got open

Marquez Miller

We went to the super bowl. That’s how it worked out. Then moss decided not ta show up for the bowl. Comin up short on slants and anything over the middle. As usual

Marquez Miller

Also.. Brady HAD to do it with no ones an did not play in the nfc. Patriots would not have come out the nfc west. Brady usually has a good receiving corp.. he JUST lost his favorite receivers ever in welker. Had one of the best of randy moss’ years. Not ta mention he had Gronk AND Hernandez. Biggest 2 TEs in the league. So.. they give him weapons. And all other good qbs… like Mr. McMullen said up there

ed

Not last year. Are you happy when kap is ranked so low in playoff performance

Tom Woodward

I wonder if Kap got hurt when Clay Matthews gave him the cheap shot out of bounds.

49’er secondary needs to get better if they want to win a SB. Getting rid of Rogers was a start. I don’t think Culliver is the answer in replacing him.

Rodrigues_Islander

All the handwringing … I actually think Kap is developing nicely. If they can add a receiver who can stretch the field, and if LaMichael James, Kendall Hunter or Marcus Lattimore develop as viable running threats in spelling Gore, then I think Kap steps up his offensive production too.
Seattle won because they have a dominant defense that covered up the fact that, outside of Marshawn Lynch and Baldwin, their offense is spotty too. I like Wilson but really, he’s developing too, his stats are nothing to write home about.

ZFoto

So all Kaepernick needs is 4 Pro Bowl receivers and a potent running game. Damn he IS good…..

Ryan Andrews

also bc A) the Packers D is crappy and B) they totally sold out on the run and read option leaving the WR wide open

Bigmouth

Hey, I don’t like it either, but that’s the way the offense is designed. Your beef’s with Harbaugh and Roman.

Bigmouth

To clarify, in what category is Kap ranked so low?

Marquez Miller

Selling out on the run is no excuse for getting yards put up on u alllll gaaaame lonnnng. If it was just a quarter or somethin that’d make sense. Also. Packers jus can’t beat us.also u still have dbs out there who need to be sorry about the position they’re supposed ta be defending.

Marquez Miller

Ed… Please answer Bigmouth..

ed

excuse me….he had over four hundred pass attempts…he was 31st in pass completion percentange…..thats on the passer. if it was conservative his percentage would be higher….in the playoffs, where you want to be on the top, he was 11 out of twelve…did you ever consider it might just be kapernick

ed

you picked one game. im talking the entire season…rarely thrown to him

David Harte

Let’s get real, shall we?

Kaepernick choked at the end of the Super Bowl, forcing four throws to a possession receiver who was never open (and forget pass interference–that call is never made with so much on the line–so the kid needed to look elsewhere), while also being unable to get a played called in time, a run that probably would have scored given the Ravens’ defensive set, etc.

Last season he again forced a pass that did not need to be thrown to the same receiver with disastrous results.

Learning, Colin?

The kid is young–fair enough. Except Montana and Brady both had Super Bowl victories at the same age (and both were approaching their second title by 26), though neither man had quality of the defense or running back that Kaepernick relied on against the Ravens.

Will he win a ring eventually? There’s certainly a good chance, especially with Harbaugh. But of course he hasn’t. And it’s fair to has Kaepernick is the reason the 49ers lost the Super Bowl, and that he has struggled in the biggest moments with poor decision making. The fact is, two years in as a starter, Kaepernick STILL can’t get his teammates lined up and the play off on time is unbelievable. Do you ever remember Montana or Brady or Manning or Luck struggling with this aspect of the position early in their careers?

I don’t either.

If the 49ers pay him like a champion before he is a champion, they will lose key players at other positions. They will inevitably weaken the entire team.

Do any of you really think Kaepernick can carry his team on his back like Montana in ’81? (He was 25 then, remember.)

Bigmouth

Kap definitely needs to work on his accuracy. He also needs to take the check down more, which would help with that. But it turns out completion percentage only correlates weakly with winning. Yards/Attempt has a stronger statistical correlation, and Kap ranked 8th in the NFL.

The reason for this comes back to scheme. We don’t pass often, but when we do, it’s usually a long pass downfield. Kap’s passes traveled further through the air, on average, than most other NFL QBs. Those longer passes are less accurate but eat up large chunks of yardage.

Our passing offense is basically like a guy who has a low BA but still hits a lot of home runs.

Bigmouth

To be fair, Kap’s not even in a position to “choke” if he doesn’t lead furious come backs in the NFC championship and Super Bowl. I think he’s already carried the team on his back. He just hasn’t carried them to the Super Bowl.

No disrespect, but I’m always baffled when you compare Kap to Montana. Their stats compare very favorably at a similar point in their careers. Montana made plenty of mistakes in playoff games. The difference between them is a handful of plays.

Nobody in their right mind thinks Kap is as good, or better than Joe. By that same token, all the separates Kap from arguably the greatest QB of all time is a few poor plays. And the same was true of Steve Young for years.

How do you not see the glass as half full?

ed

throwing 25 times a game is not a small number…he threw very few long deep balls, the only one that comes to mind is v.davis in tampa…he only throws to wide open receivers..percentages are a mathematical equation..31st in completion is awful. 11th out of 12 qbs in the playoffs is awful..look where wilson performed compared to kap, similiar look at the differences

Mr. Harte…
Abso-fuggin-lutely correct!!!! You are SPOT ON in this assessment of Kaep and the salary issue.. I totally agree with everything you’ve written. Paying him the big bucks now and they will surely mortgage the future of the team. I’m all for giving him a chance to deliver, but NOT PAYING HiM BIG MONEY BEFORE HE DELEVERS!!! TOO many holes in his game. You don’t pay for you meal at a fine restaurant before you dine. You pay AFTER and tip well if the meal was very good. Same should be with sports teams. Produce first, then get paid. Montana, Young, these guys won the big one with HALF the talent the current 49ers have and nowhere near Colin’s athletic abilities, so Colin has no excuse for not getting them over in the two opportunities he had to get that trophy. This team got him to the door twice and he alone screwed it up… “twice! Two times!!! Two times!!!”
Jim Kelly/Buffalo got there 4 times (with no luck) and no one ever put Kelly on a pedestal like they are doing Kaep. People must learn to put things in their proper perspective when discussing Keap’s worth. Bottom line, If/When hi wins the big one, then he get’s the big check. that’s fair. right?

Think about it everyone… IF Kaep were worth the big bucks, there would be no need for this article OR the ensuing argument that continues to follow. His contract should be heavily incentive-based to show he has learned to play his position better. You don’t hand a guy like this the big bucks with soooooo many flaws in his game. check the list: Big Arm: check. Mobile: check. Understand Defenses: NO. Pocket Awareness: NO, Goes thru Progressions: NO. Understands the QB position: eh… jury still out on that one.
When you add it all up, Is he REALLY WORTH MULTIPLE MILLIONS???

I think not. At least not right now.

Bigmouth

ed, no disrespect, but your memory is fallible. Kap throws a higher percentage of deep balls than almost anyone in the NFL.

And yes, it’s true completion % is a mathematical equation. So’s batting average. But it turns out, when you do even more math called a regression analysis, completion % and batting average don’t matter as much as other stats when it comes to winning.

The 2013 playoff numbers you cite are indeed poor by any measure. Remember, though, that Kap was playing against pretty tough defenses for two of those games. Also, don’t forget to look at how Kap ranked in last year’s playoffs.

ed

list me 3 long ball tds that kap threw…you have 19 games to choose from…..exactly my point…two years ago he was stellar…last year he was bottom of the barrel….thats called regression….both in the regular season and playoffs..comparing to the two years, he has fallen backwards…he played well against ravens, a top defense…

Bigmouth

What exactly would that prove? If Kap completes more long passes at a higher rate than most QBs, why does it matter if Gore punches the ball into the end zone after?

Yes, Kap definitely regressed. The question is, which explanation is more plausible. Did Kap become less skilled as a player, or did the rest of the league catch up with him and our scheme? After looking at all the evidence, I think it’s pretty clearly the latter.

Again, no disrespect, but it feels like you’re just looking for numbers that prove you’re right rather than making an honest assessment of all the evidence available.

davibaby2012 .

then pay him half the amount until you get the rest. did you see his QB rating last season? 32nd in passing offense (dead last). He’s a passer, isn’t he? Stat don’t mean JACK!

“…all the separates Kap from arguably the greatest QB of all time is a few poor plays.”

dude… I can’t even comment on that non-sense. I get that you like the guy. I do too BUT, winners win. we pay champions, not “potential” champions. His mistakes are not minimal, but monumental… and at the worst possible moments, when championships are on the line. Teams play to get to THAT MOMENT. His mistakes in those moments cost his team championships so these are far more than just a “few poor plays.” These “plays” define you as a QB, good or bad. I say give him one more season to prove himself. The 49er’s were solid with Smith under center. CK walked into an optimal situation and still has not produced. That’s no small issue in these negotiations, but a huge one.

Ask yourself this question: can Colin take his skills to another team and reach the level of the 49er’s?
I not only say no, I’ll put a “hell” in front of it. He needs much more work on his game. The “swag” alone ain’t gonna cut it. I get it, he’s young and cool and all… but he aint a winner yet.. and we shouldn’t pay him like one… yet.

ed

the honest assessment is he has regressed..thats what the numbers show. it showed in the biggest games, the playoffs, he regressed…it shows that he is going backwards..not forwards…..all the things about him in college are shining in the pros…he is a qb forced upon the niners because its JHs boy, not the best pick

Bigmouth

Passer rating is a junk stat, but for the record, Kap’s rating last season was higher than Joe’s when he won the Super Bowl.

Don’t like stats? Fine, let’s talk wins. Kap is 17-6 in the regular season, and 4-2 in the playoffs. By any definition, he’s a winner.

I honestly can’t answer the question of how Kap would perform on another team. Of course, I honestly can’t tell you how Joe would have performed with Walsh and the WCO his first few seasons.

I like the guy because the objective evidence tells me his haters are wrong. I wouldn’t waste my time defending him otherwise.

Bigmouth

The honest assessment is he’s regressed but still ranks among the best in the league in categories that correlate most closely with winning.

ed

and what are those…

davibaby2012 .

Different offense, different game, different era, stats are meaningless.. but I hear what your saying and you do make sense man..

Here’s my take; with Kaep, so far it’s all “woulda, coulda, shoulda”. I see the potential, but how many times have we seen potential blow up in our faces? The issue here is do we pay him for what we hope he can do? Stats are totally meaningless! You should know that by now. How many big stat QB’ watch the SB from home? RIGHT.

The evidence tells me that paying him big money will be suicide for the niners. He needs way too much work to mortgage team team for at this point (I want to be clear). I think he will develop nicely with the RIGHT coaching (not feeling Harbaugh – loose cannon)

I’ll answer the question for you. No, kaep will not have anywhwere the success he’s having with the niners. They are making HIM look good, not the other way around. When the game is on the line and the ball is in his hands do you: a) cheer or b) cringe and pray? if you answer is “b”,… that should tell you all you need to know. discussion over.

Good talking with you BM. peace.

davibaby2012 .

LMAO!!!! good one.

Bigmouth

Your point re different eras is VERY well taken. In fact, when we correct for this, it’s clear Montana was better at passing relative to his peers than Kap is.

Still, two things to keep in mind. First, our offense is straight out of the 1970s lol. Second, Kap was ranked 10th in passer rating — not too shabby.

I see more production and efficiency from Kap than you do, but am similarly reluctant to pay him for now. Not because he hasn’t won the Super Bowl or isn’t clutch. Because the nature of our scheme takes so much decision making out of the hands of our QB.

Kap may not deserve

Allan Makis

Man, you are trying rational arguments with someone who doesn’t want to listen. It is worthless.
He wants to think Kap is a lousy QB. Nothing you can do about it.

Bigmouth

Of traditional stats, the best measure of a passing offense is Yards/Attempt. The statistical correlation with winning percentage is strong, while the correlation of other measures like Completion % is very weak.

There are also variations of Yards/Attempt that correlate even more strongly with winning percentage. The best of these is Adjusted Net Yards/Attempt, which takes into account things like sacks, INTs, and TDs.

Kap ranked 8th in both Y/A and ANY/A. Of course, these are imperfect, and there are even better advanced measures like DVOA. But they all tell the same tale: Kap is a top-10 QB based solely on passing.

Militiades

Kaepernick had his chance to show what kind of thinking quarterback
he was in the 4th quarter against Seattle. There was a lot of pressure
on him … and ……he came up short (you could even say he choked). That moment partially defined him as a
quarterback. He is a one read quarterback, with a cocky attitude, and
great physical ability and can tear up a bad defense. Against a good pass defense like Seattle’s, you can forget it. He will just run. You don’t pay a one read quarterback top
money. Maybe he’ll get better but he’s not worth the big money right now.
My guess is that the Niners will probably overpay him this off season
and will likely regret it in years to come. I’ve seen his style before
and those big scrambling cannon arms never seem to win a Superbowl. You have to be
smart, stay in the pocket, take your time, and make the right pass. Russell Wilson is
worth that kind of money because he has proven himself unlike Kaepernick.

Marquez Miller

Randy moss runs one route.. especially at that age. Ok? So… In the 49ers offense two years ago.. (like this even freakin matters.. it was two years ago AND we went to the super bowl so not passin to randy must have been workin).. but anyway.. two years ago he was used as a straight decoy. Rarely was kap ever supposed ta do more than look his way. His one route (fly route if u didn know cuz it seems u don’t pay much attention to actual games) was used to move DBs away from where the play really was.. ever watch basketball? It happens. Thas how we play sometimes. And it worked pretty damn well.. u jus go find numbers that are apparently supposed ta make kap look bad but ppl keep failing to remember this is his 2nd year as a starter. And only 1st full year. Hate to keep sayin this bit everyone’s golden child Andrew Luck has been just as inaccurate as he is accurate. Except the playoffs where he’s worse. And he started both full years. If kap sucks in two more years when u can actually see whay his growth is then u win. But he won’t. and harbaugh won’t. And neither will the 9ers.

ed

i love the ignorant poster that has to throw in the insult. if you understood the game, which apparently you dont, and you dont know what kap was told , and based on your spelling and child like usage of the english language, you would realize Kap, you QB, doesnt go through his progressions .. if he took the time to wait for a play, he would find open receivers. What it means, even though it was two years ago, is he is still doing the same thing. which means, like you, he doesnt learn. You like to say how good he is, and when you are shown how good he really isnt, you come up with well his is only a second year starter, which means a, he isint that good, and b, the defense had more to do with it than you give them credit..Yes andrew luck is not that accurate right now, but he has 14 4th quarter comebacks …thats called clutch…not choke…illl take luck any day because he is ten times smarter and understands the offense, unlike you.. and please tell me how you know that kap wasnt suppose to throw to kap, you a forty niner coach..

Ron I.

He MAY one day be a great QB but he ain’t there yet and to pay him anything close to $18 mil/year is insane. Shoot, I heard $14 mil a few days ago and I thought that was crazy and now I hear $4 mil more. Jim, Trent…you 2 are nuts.

Marquez Miller

Of course I’m not a coach. Y say that? And my “child-like” use of the English language is slang. Lots of people use it and jus because I’m on a blog doesn’t mean I’m bout ta start usin proper English to impress u. U understood everything I said. And I know bout how moss was being used because being the fan that I am I follow lots of their articles and interviews and overall pay attention. I never said kap was perfect. Of course he can improve duh. An he has things to work on.. my POINT is that for where he is in his career he has accomplished A LOT. and not just because his defense is good. Plenty of games/plays we needed kap for. I don’t understand how u can criticize someone that young THATmuch. It makes absolutely no sense. Especially with his production. But judging by your comments about my use of the English language.. I think u don’t like kap cuz he wears his hats backwards..

ed

no i dont like his hat but that doesnt make up for the fact he is a mediocre passer who has now choked in two big games…so if you want to stay with your average passer, keep him..

Rodrigues_Islander

Why do fans care so much about salaries?
If the market for Kaepernick is $15M to $18M a year so be it. You’d better believe that if Kaepernick was on the open market now there’d be multiple bidders and he’d get well over $15M per year. Is the value based more on potential than result? Probably but not as much as the complainers would have you believe. I’d say 2 NFC championships and a Super Bowl appearance in 3 years is damned good results. How many of you believe that Colt McCoy could have done as well with this team? Also, what do we have in waiting that’s better than Kaepernick?